5 ms·

As an example, the common temperatures in NYC range from 0-100F. In celcius that's like -18 to +38. I'm a scientist and an engineer, and in those applications

As an example, the common temperatures in NYC range from 0-100F. In celcius that's like -18 to +38. I'm a scientist and an engineer, and in those applications C is often better. But in daily life, Fahrenheit makes a ton of sense.

int_19h 8y ago
If you live in NYC, maybe. A lot of people don't, and you can find places where ranges in C are "neater" than in F.
- umanwizard 8y ago
  > If you live in NYC, maybe. A lot of people don't Those people are free to use whatever units they like. It doesn't have much bearing on the point that Fahrenheit, which is used in the United States, is a good match for the climate of most of the United States.
  - int_19h 8y ago
    Most of the United States doesn't have climate that falls within 0..100 F. There are plenty of places that are more like 30..90 F etc. And I don't see how that's any different from, say, 0..30 C. OTOH, as far as weather goes, C has the nice property that anything below zero is freezing temperature. In any locale where snow and ice is a thing, that's handy to know.
redial 8y ago
In Ecuador the temperature ranges from ~60 to ~90F, but I'm sure for them is a great relief to know people of New York have a temperature unit that perfectly matches their climate as neatly as going from 0 to 100.
- anamexis 8y ago
  But is 15C to 32C better?
evil-olive 8y ago
Just think about it by 10s, as you do with the metric system: 20 C - a bit less than room temperature (68 F) 30 C - pretty hot (86 F) 40 C - very hot (104 F) And going the other way: 10 C - a bit chilly (50 F) 0 C - cold (32 F) -10 C - real cold (14 F) -20 C - really really cold (-4 F) When you hear a temperature in Celsius, don't try to convert it to Fahrenheit, just think in Celsius. 15 degrees is halfway between "chilly" 10 C and "room temp" 20 C. One degree of warming - say 26 C to 27 C - is pretty easy to conceptualize when you have those 10-degree reference points.
- bnjms 8y ago
  This is the right answer for Americans. The reason I prefer Fahrenheit is because it is the one I know what degrees feel like and because Celsius isn’t reported in enough resolution. If it was always reported to the half point I think we would be able to relate to Celsius better. And if I was making a population wide change I’d ensure reporting was always to the half degree.
  - stephen_g 8y ago
    We just report it to the degree (high of 34 tomorrow, 32 the next day). That's really plenty of resolution for non-scientific measurement.
    - kiriakasis 8y ago
      And is also more resolution than the error warrants
      - bnjms 8y ago
        I think I meant less for forecasts and more for weather apps and thermostats. I really think it could help with adoption. But if it’s not warranted by the error then maybe I’ll reconsider.
        Moru 8y ago

int_19h 8y ago

If you live in NYC, maybe. A lot of people don't, and you can find places where ranges in C are "neater" than in F.

umanwizard 8y ago
> If you live in NYC, maybe. A lot of people don't Those people are free to use whatever units they like. It doesn't have much bearing on the point that Fahrenheit, which is used in the United States, is a good match for the climate of most of the United States.
- int_19h 8y ago
  Most of the United States doesn't have climate that falls within 0..100 F. There are plenty of places that are more like 30..90 F etc. And I don't see how that's any different from, say, 0..30 C. OTOH, as far as weather goes, C has the nice property that anything below zero is freezing temperature. In any locale where snow and ice is a thing, that's handy to know.

redial 8y ago

In Ecuador the temperature ranges from ~60 to ~90F, but I'm sure for them is a great relief to know people of New York have a temperature unit that perfectly matches their climate as neatly as going from 0 to 100.

anamexis 8y ago
But is 15C to 32C better?

evil-olive 8y ago

Just think about it by 10s, as you do with the metric system: 20 C - a bit less than room temperature (68 F) 30 C - pretty hot (86 F) 40 C - very hot (104 F) And going the other way: 10 C - a bit chilly (50 F) 0 C - cold (32 F) -10 C - real cold (14 F) -20 C - really really cold (-4 F) When you hear a temperature in Celsius, don't try to convert it to Fahrenheit, just think in Celsius. 15 degrees is halfway between "chilly" 10 C and "room temp" 20 C. One degree of warming - say 26 C to 27 C - is pretty easy to conceptualize when you have those 10-degree reference points.

bnjms 8y ago
This is the right answer for Americans. The reason I prefer Fahrenheit is because it is the one I know what degrees feel like and because Celsius isn’t reported in enough resolution. If it was always reported to the half point I think we would be able to relate to Celsius better. And if I was making a population wide change I’d ensure reporting was always to the half degree.
- stephen_g 8y ago
  We just report it to the degree (high of 34 tomorrow, 32 the next day). That's really plenty of resolution for non-scientific measurement.
  - kiriakasis 8y ago
    And is also more resolution than the error warrants
    - bnjms 8y ago
      I think I meant less for forecasts and more for weather apps and thermostats. I really think it could help with adoption. But if it’s not warranted by the error then maybe I’ll reconsider.
      - Moru 8y ago